'heavy-handed' originates from the combination of 'heavy' and 'handed', where 'heavy' meant 'weighty or burdensome' and 'handed' referred to the manner of handling or dealing with something.

'heavy-handed' evolved from the literal sense of having a heavy hand to a metaphorical sense of being clumsy or oppressive in action.

Initially, it meant 'having a physically heavy hand', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'being clumsy or oppressive in action'.